Pronger talks about rehab, Richards
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Pronger talks about rehab, Richards
Sam Carchidi, Inquirer Staff Writer
Flyers defenseman Chris Pronger said Thursday his rehab from back surgery was progressing, but that he didn’t know if he would be ready for the start of training camp in September.
"I'm not Kreskin," he said.
In a wide-ranging conference call with reporters, Pronger said he was brought in two seasons ago to help Mike Richards with his captaincy, added that the surgery for a herniated disk had eased the pain in his leg, and acknowledged that his injury-plagued season was “frustrating.”
Pronger, whose team was swept by Boston in the conference semifinals, was asked about Richards and how he has handled the captaincy.
“When a team wins, players get pats on the back, and that’s usually your captain and goalie.” He added that the opposite happens when a team loses, and said that was unfair.
“People can say whatever they want about Richie. At the end of the day, it’s a team sport,” he said.
Added Pronger: “I was brought it to help him be a captain…I think he’s made some strides. Everyone does things their own way.”
Pronger on being a captain in Philadelphia. “It’s not easy when expectations are high.”
He added it was “a little ridiculous for people to be blaming one person” _ Richards _ for the Flyers playoff failure.
Asked if he thought the Flyers needed to add a goaltender, Pronger said, “Goalies don’t grow on trees…The difficult part is, who do you have to give up to get one?”
Pronger, who will turn 37 on Oct. 10, said he did not know when he could begin skating, adding there were “lots of hurdles before I can do anything.”
The defenseman's back surgery was his fourth operation in a 9 1/2-month period.
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